Looking for feedback from anyone who has done La Ruta, or attempted it.
Hey Gary,
I have spent quite a bit of time riding over there(the central pacific coast). I have mountain biked part of stage one and also on ATV’d it. Dude, I can’t believe those guys!!! It is the worst conditions imaginable for an XC race. Check out Tinker’s website. He has a summary of last year’s race. www.tinkerjuarez.com
He’s a cool guy… just email him, and he’ll fill in about all of the details!!!
You have to basically replace your brake pads, cables/housings after every stage. The mud, water, humidity siezes up everything on the bike. The heat is brutal too!!! Definitely the most brutal MTB stage race in the world(its right up there with the crocodile trophy in Australia).
But, the people are really cool and soooo helpful!!! The scenery is amazing, as well. PURA VIDA!!!
I have often thought of giving it a try one of these years. But, first I am going to do a “shorter” XC race there(a one day). Like, La Vuelta de la Soledad is a good one. There are many races there that are not even advertised on the internet. You just have to email tour companies/etc…to find out.
I haven’t done the race but did I live in Costa Rica for a few months doing bat/plant genetics research and most of my trip consisted of living outdoors… I may be able to give you some general info on what to expect outside of race specifics.
This race will be no easy task. You should expect nearly every type of weather possible from hot and muggy to freezing cold and wet. In fact, you will likely get wet 3 minutes from the start and remain wet until you get off the plane in the US. Toughen up your feet for this one and bring lots of good socks because you will probably throw several pairs away throughout the race. It seems like you cross a river every 100 meters. By the end of my trip I could basically sleep in a puddle and covered in insects, and not even bat an eye.
When you are in the forest near the coast the heat and bugs will be oppressive. It is similar to biking in Hawaii in terms of heat index, but the addition of millions of biting bugs will test your will at times. You will want to inspect yourself daily for critters burrowing in your feet – and watch out for mosquito bites that appear to move.
The mountains down there are pretty high and steep. You will climb about 25,000 feet over the course of the race. The biking will be the slimy, slippery, greasy, and muddy so I can imagine that you will be carrying your bike on narrow slippery trails quite a lot. When you get to the top of the hill it might be 40 with wind and rain so you will need to gear up in general. Gear takes a beating down there… It is absolutely amazing the number of ecotones you will pass through.
I’m not sure if any part of the race takes place on the roads but if it does expect a free for all. Watch yourself closely for how shall we say “erratic driving decisions”. Hmmmm, huge logging truck and a blind mountain corner ahead, no problem, they will pass and just cut you off if they need to.
I would highly suggest getting there at least a week early and go right to the lowlands in order to get your gut fauna change over completed well before the race or you could find yourself in a shitty situation. That will give you time to learn to live on beans and rice as well. Also watch your gear closely for theives!
Sounds damn fun but this will be one burly ass ride!
You just gained another 10 points in the Metrosexual Quiz for being scared of bugs:))))))))))
.
Gary, I know two mountain biker chicks from Hawaii who did it two years ago, Connie Abram and Sue Hughes. Connie is the director of MADD(Mothers against Drunk Drivers etc) in Hawaii so you can send her an email (PM me if you have any problem). She had a great time, can send you some slides. BTW both of these woman are single and you couldn’t go wrong going on a ride with either one of them! 
If you get lucky I want some serious schwag.
.
Boy I’d hate to have changed your mind purely because of my bug comments. I was just kidding, there are no bugs in Costa Rica - well maybe a few happy bugs but that’s it.
Hey Gary,
I have spent quite a bit of time riding over there(the central pacific coast). I have mountain biked part of stage one and also on ATV’d it. Dude, I can’t believe those guys!!! It is the worst conditions imaginable for an XC race. Check out Tinker’s website. He has a summary of last year’s race. www.tinkerjuarez.com
He’s a cool guy… just email him, and he’ll fill in about all of the details!!!
You have to basically replace your brake pads, cables/housings after every stage. The mud, water, humidity siezes up everything on the bike. The heat is brutal too!!! Definitely the most brutal MTB stage race in the world(its right up there with the crocodile trophy in Australia).
But, the people are really cool and soooo helpful!!! The scenery is amazing, as well. PURA VIDA!!!
I have often thought of giving it a try one of these years. But, first I am going to do a “shorter” XC race there(a one day). Like, La Vuelta de la Soledad is a good one. There are many races there that are not even advertised on the internet. You just have to email tour companies/etc…to find out.
I couldn’t agree more w. your assessment of Tinker. I spent the afternoon of Day 3 at this year’s La Ruta just hanging out w. him, drinking Imperials (the Costa Rican cerveza). I have photos of he and I with Roman Urbina, the race founder of La Ruta. You couldn’t meet two cooler, easy going dudes.
That race was incredibly tough - I’m thinking of going back next year, when it will be 4 days long (with the addition of some wicked single track). And when I’ve actually ridden my MTB more than 12 times!
I was athletically arrogant, thinking I could do the race on endurance alone. WRONG! LOL - but I LOVED it! Whereelse in the world can you do a 30 km mountain climb - with no relief! Only to bomb down the backside of the mountain! Wicked fun.
La Ruta is the ultimate cheaters paradise. It is really bad. Way worse that any drafting grey area in tri’s. It is not uncommon to see bikers holding on to the luggage racks getting a tow up the mountain. Check out dirtrag forums or MTBR for some classic La Ruta Tales.
hi gary,
here’s a couple of links to race reports:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=160013&highlight=la+ruta
http://teamdicky.blog.com/489784/
many pics here:
I’m doing the Cape Epic in South Africa in March, which is similar. I’m sure I’ll start looking at La Ruta, Trans Rockies and Trans Alps after that…
The Cape Epic is done in teams of two.
Christoph Sauser has some company in the 2006 Epic:
Race village after one of the stages:
Spnsored by Adidas:
Another race village pic:
Leaders, including 2005 and 2006 winner, Christoph Sauser:
I’ve heard a bit about the cape race but looking at the site and reading about la ruta a bit more now the cape looks like possibly more fun/suffering… thanks for the pics and info!
one of my buddys got a near fatal virus while racing Cape two years back from a scratch on his leg (open wound)
it was really really bad
.
The things one learns on here! I didn’t know you are an off roader. Gary, I thought you were a pure tester who made forays into triathlon periodically. Why haven’t we seen pictures of your mtbs? Post away.
.
No feedback here but I watched it on cycling.tv and it was really cool. Maybe they have archives you could look at. Just really neat country to travel over.
Cool pictures, Gary. What race was that from?
“I’m doing the Cape Epic in South Africa in March, which is similar.”
If by similar, you mean contested over multiple days, by people riding mountain bikes, then yeah - but that’s about where the similarities end…
.
The Cape Epic has a couple of stages that move through rainforest on the coast before the race enters the semi-desert. This year the field went through brake pads like Doritos.
Gary, one of my team mates attempted La Ruta this year. He failed to make the time cut off on the first stage and he is a strong expert level racer. The key problem that he ran across was the heat and especially the humidity. This year they did not have the rain of previous years and the heat/humidity on the first stage caused a lot of DNF’s.
He drained 3 camelbacks worth of water plus taking endurolytes, but was unable to absorb it all and ended up throwing up by the side of the trail. He wound up in hospital getting three IV’s after leaving.
I would suggest making sure you acclimatize, in Arizona we get heat, but usually no humidity. He was well under the time cut off’s until he fell apart.
After all that he can’t wait to go back next year.
Kevin